Hiwell

Online therapy platform connecting users to licensed therapists

Website: https://www.hiwellapp.com

Cover Block

Metric Value
Name Hiwell
Tagline Online therapy platform connecting users to licensed therapists
Headquarters Istanbul, Turkey
Founded 2019
Stage Seed
Business Model Marketplace
Industry Healthtech
Technology Software (Non-AI)
Geography Middle East / North Africa
Founding Team Solo Founder
Funding Label Seed

Table 1: Core company identifiers. The founding year is cited as 2019 by multiple sources [Tracxn, 2026] [Bounce Watch] [ZoomInfo], though one database lists 2021 [PitchBook, 2026].

Links

The Short Version

Hiwell is a seed-stage online therapy platform from Turkey that has scaled to serve over 300,000 individual users across five countries [Bounce Watch] [LeadIQ]. Founded in 2019 by Ali Ozan Özçiçek, the company connects clients with a network of licensed therapists through a digital marketplace, initially focusing on direct-to-consumer sessions and later expanding into corporate wellness programs [Crunchbase] [Tracxn]. The platform's differentiation rests on its curated therapist network, which the company reports includes over 2,000 vetted professionals, and a matching system designed to pair users based on an initial needs survey [F6S].

Founder Özçiçek is a Boğaziçi University engineering graduate with a corporate operations background at firms like Mercedes and BSH [ekşi sözlük]. The company has raised a seed round, with one source citing a $3.5 million raise at a $28.5 million valuation [Crunchbase].

Data Accuracy: YELLOW -- Core company description and founder background have multiple source corroborations; key growth metrics and funding details are from single or unverified sources.

Taxonomy Snapshot

Axis Value
Stage Seed
Business Model Marketplace
Industry / Vertical Healthtech
Technology Type Software (Non-AI)
Geography Middle East / North Africa
Founding Team Solo Founder
Funding Seed

The Company in Brief

Hiwell is a Turkish online therapy platform founded in 2019, headquartered in Istanbul, operating as a marketplace connecting individuals and corporate clients with licensed psychotherapists [Crunchbase]. Founder Ali Ozan Özçiçek, a Boğaziçi University mechanical engineering graduate, launched the venture after a career in industrial roles at companies including Hyundai and Mercedes [ekşi sözlük].

By late 2023, the platform claimed to have scaled its network to over 2,000 licensed and vetted therapists and was reportedly operating in five countries [source 7]. The company also announced a program to provide free psychological support to victims and relatives of the 2023 earthquakes in Turkey [source 12].

Data Accuracy: YELLOW -- Core company description and founder background corroborated by multiple databases; key operational metrics and milestones are from single, unverified secondary sources.

What They Have Built

Hiwell operates a marketplace platform that connects users seeking therapy with licensed psychologists and psychotherapists. The core product is an online portal where individuals can be matched with a professional based on an initial survey of their needs [Crunchbase]. The company claims its network includes over 2,000 licensed and vetted therapists [Bounce Watch].

Inferred from job postings and database listings, the tech stack includes elements like Amazon S3, PHP, and Tailwind CSS [LeadIQ]. The service is a software-driven marketplace without a publicly stated reliance on proprietary AI for matching or therapy delivery. The platform serves a dual customer base: direct-to-consumer therapy sessions, reportedly serving over 300,000 individual users, and a B2B service providing businesses with access to therapy for employee mental health support [Bounce Watch].

Data Accuracy: YELLOW -- Core product description is consistent across multiple databases, but key metrics like user count and therapist network size are from a single, undated source. Technology stack is inferred.

Market Size and Demand

The market for digital mental health services is expanding globally. The global digital mental health market was valued at approximately $25 billion in 2023 [Bounce Watch]. Hiwell's cited expansion from five to a targeted ten countries in 2024 aligns with broader trends of regional platforms scaling to meet demand across geographies with similar cultural and linguistic profiles.

Metric Value
Global Digital Mental Health Market 2023 $25B

Data Accuracy: YELLOW -- A single, broad global market figure is cited from one source; regional and service-specific sizing is not publicly confirmed.

Who Else Is Fighting for This

Company Positioning Stage / Funding Notable Differentiator Source
Hiwell Turkey-based online therapy marketplace for individuals and B2B. Seed stage; undisclosed funding round. Claims a network of 2,000+ licensed, vetted therapists in Turkey and MENA region. [Crunchbase], [7]

Hiwell faces direct challengers like Kidolog and Heltia. Adjacent substitutes include platforms like EvdekiBakıcım. The most formidable long-term competition may come from conglomerate-backed ventures like Eczacibasi Evital. Hiwell's claimed edge today rests on the scale of its therapist network and its early focus on the Turkish market. This local density and language-specific offering create a modest barrier to entry for global platforms like BetterHelp or Talkspace, which have limited penetration in Turkey.

Data Accuracy: YELLOW -- Hiwell's differentiation claims are from a single source.

Opportunity

Hiwell aims to become the default, trusted platform for online therapy in Turkey and its neighboring markets. The company has reportedly built a network of over 2,000 licensed therapists and a user base exceeding 300,000. The founder has stated a target of expanding to 10 countries in 2024.

Scenario What happens Catalyst Why it's plausible
B2B Enterprise Anchor Hiwell becomes the mandated mental health benefit for major corporations in the region. Securing a flagship partnership with a large, multi-national corporation. The company already offers B2B employee mental health support.
Geographic Domination in MENA The platform becomes the first and most recognized therapy brand in 3-5 key MENA markets. Successful localization and regulatory navigation in a second major market. The founder has stated a 2024 target of expanding to 10 countries.

Data Accuracy: YELLOW -- Growth targets and therapist counts are from a single secondary source; user metrics are from an un-dated research snippet.

Sources

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